Olay Regenerist Night Firming Cream

I cannot stress enough how important moisturizing is, most especially at night!

I've been searching for a night cream for a long time now; a night cream that is effective, something that is not too rich and thick that could possibly clog the pores, something that is not too fragrant or fragrance-free and something that won't put a hole in my pocket.

I've browsed the net and found great reviews on Olay Regenerist Night Firming Cream. So, of course, the curious in me reigned once more and I tried it out! Here's how it looks like...

Product Description:

Olay Regenerist Night Firming Cream has amino-peptide + B3 complex and is suitable for daily use. Add it to your skin care routine to replenish your skin.

How to use:
Smooth over cleansed face and neck every evening.

Ingredients:
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Polyethylene, Niacinamide, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Stearyl Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Propylene Glycol, PEG-10 Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Petrolatum, Sucrose Polycottonseedate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone, Benzyl Alcohol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Fragrance, Allantoin, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, PEG-100 Stearate, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Betaine Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Sodium PCA, Proline, Sorbitol, Serine, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Lysine, Alanine, Arginine, Threonine, CI 16035, CI 42090.

My experience with the product:

The product comes in a glass container with a shiny, silver twist cap. Since it is placed in a thick glass, this makes it inconvenient for traveling as it is heavy! And since you also have to dip your finger in the container everytime you use it, this makes the product open to contamination.

The texture of the product is thick but it glides well unto the skin. It is absorbed easily and it's matte! Rarely will you find a cream-based product that is not greasy, so that impressed me. I used a little more than a pea-sized amount for the whole face and when I woke up in the morning, my face still felt soft and moisturized! It also did not cause irritation, although it may be perhaps I only used it twice. Why only twice, you ask? Here's the reason: THE SCENT. THAT OVERPOWERING SCENT. Yes, I don't like products that are too scented. The scent is so fragrant I can't even take it, I'm sorry. If it wasn't for the scent, it will be a great product for me. But it smells like perfume!

What I like:

• fast-absorbing
• matte finish, non-greasy
• inexpensive for a good quality night cream

What I dislike:

• the scent!!!!!!!!!
• packaging is unhygienic

I still use the product, but not on my face, not anywhere near my nose! I use it as a neck cream; I also use it on my elbows and knees. But after this one is done, I won't buy again!

Price: Php 950.00

My 5 Make-Up Kit Staples

Hello everyone!

I was arranging my on-the-go make-up kit today (yes, I have another make-up kit that I don't always bring with me), and I realized that it would be great to share with all of you my 5 product staples. These are beauty products/tools that I bring with me when I go to work, to school, to go do some errands, etc. I chose to feature these 5 products because these are things that prep me up easily, make me look presentable without doing too much or exerting too much effort.

Here's the make-up kit! It's just a simple kit I got as a freebie when I bought stuff from Stila. Its storage capacity is big enough for my essentials.

And here are my 5 make-up kit staples!

1) The Body Shop Lip and Cheek Tint

I know, I know! I should buy another one! haha! But see how much I love it and how much I use it? It's a lip and cheek tint but I only use it on my lips. Its consistency is thin, it's spreadable, and it has a light scent. I've been using this product since it was still packaged as a small bottle with a roller ball! It's very affordable, too!

2) Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

Believe me when I say that this eyelash curler is worth splurging on! It may be worth a thousand bucks but you will get what you pay for! I only use this once in the morning but it holds until the afternoon (and that's without using mascara). I just love it because it holds the curl for a long time and it's very durable. Definitely a staple! But I think I've found a dupe for this, I'll review it soon!:)

3) Gatsby Oil Control Sheets

I'm not that choosy when it comes to the brand of oil sheets because I think they work just the same. I just picked this one because it's cheaper than clean and clear! haha! This is a staple as I have oily skin and I usually use this in the middle of the day when I need to freshen up. I like the original one compared to the powdered one.

4) Clinique Powder Blush in Giddy Pink

I love this blush so much I've already hit the pan! The color of this blush suits my skin tone well, it doesn't look chalky, and most importantly, it doesn't irritate my skin. The packaging looks really nice, it's durable, and I love that it has a big built-in mirror inside. It comes with a small blush brush which I LOVED because it was really soft, unfortunately I lost it :(

5) Marionnaud Angled Brush

You think you need to spend so much to get yourself a good quality brush? Think again! I love this Marionnaud Angled Brush because it's really soft; it doesn't hurt my face when I use it. It has been with me for a long time already but it still works a-okay! Some cheap brushes are made of handles and ferules that easily break, but not this one! You can buy Marionnaud Brushes at Watson's stores :)

I hope you enjoyed this post! What are your 5 make-up kit staples? :)


   

Shiseido Bio-Performance Super Eye Contour Cream

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What’s the best thing about having a mom who gives great importance to skin care? GETTING FREEBIES! Yep that’s right, freebies!

One freebie I got from her is this Shiseido Eye Cream I fell in love with the moment I first tried it out. Read on to know the reasons why I love this eye cream to bits!

Shiseido Bio-Performance Super Eye Contour Cream

Product Description (taken from www.sephora.com)

What it is:

A powerful, time-fighting, multibenefit treatment that recharges the eye area for youthful-looking vibrancy.

What it is formulated to do:

This fast-absorbing, non-sticky treatment reduces the appearance of wrinkles, dark circles, and dullness as it effectively hydrates and energizes skin.

What else you need to know:

Excellent for all skin types, it features advanced Shiseido technology and ingredients including Wrinkle-Targeting Complex and Super Bio-Moisture Network.

As of the moment, this is definitely my HG Eye Cream! Its texture is creamy; it doesn’t have a thin consistency but it feels really light on the skin! It absorbs fast I can use it anytime of the day! I use it only at night though, I feel that it works best when I'm sleeping. When I wake up in the morning, the area around my eyes aren't oily but it sure is still hydrated and moisturized! It reduced some of the lines around my eyes, though I don't think it does enough for the puffiness! I gotta use it more and give it time hehehe!

And can we just take a look at the packaging? It's so sophisticated and hygienic!

The product is doubly locked in to ensure its freshness and to prevent contamination!

Here's a low-quality photo of a hand swatch haha!

What I like:

• fast-absorbing,  light on the skin
• reduced majority of the lines around my eyes
• scent is not overpowering, just enough
• the packaging, I give 4 stars. Why not 5? See the dislikes!

What I dislike:

• the price!!!!!! 
• I cannot see how much product is left inside

Hoping to get another freebie!! haha! I love this eye cream. But the price... oh well. Still on the lookout for an eye cream with the same effect but more affordable!

Available at all Shiseido Counters for $63/ Php 2,500+. Don't know the exact price I'm sorry. :(

L'Occitane Immortelle Brightening Cleansing Foam

Immortelle- noun. mostly widely cultivated species of everlasting flowers having usually purple flowers; southern Europe to Iran; naturalized elsewhere (www.dictionary30.com) 

Could you imagine the earth without flowers? How dull would our surroundings be without it? Not only could flowers make the world a joy to live in but it could also do your skin good! 

I've always been curious on how mousse cleansers felt on the skin. I would usually only use cleansers that don't really lather and cleansers that foam up a bit, because I have that mindset that the lesser soap included equates to lesser irritation. 

I got my L'Occitane Immortelle Foaming Cleanser about 3 months ago and I would only use it once in a while and only every mornings. 

Product Description:
This gentle foaming cleanser lathers away impurities, make-up, and accumulation of daily or nightly residue. A combination of Immortelle flower water and citrus peel extract leaves complexion evenly toned and more radiant. Skin is gently but thoroughly cleansed, skin is left soft and comfortable. Suitable for all skin types.

The product comes in a blue transparent packaging with a pump and cap. 

The product looks like plain water inside the bottle but few bubbles form on top when shook. The bottle looks durable and with just one pump, a huge blob of mousse/ foam comes out. You only need one pump for the whole face so the product would last a loooong time. 

I tried using it day, mid and night everyday for a week because I got hooked! The foam is so soft, the product smells flowery and citrus-y at the same time, and it just really felt so good, I am not kidding! The smell of the cleanser even clings on your face for a long time! But then it came to a point when my face would itch every time I would use it and I realized that it may be drying my skin too much. :(

So, I lessened my usage and would limit it to once or twice a week and only every mornings. But now, I only use it once a week because I love my other cleanser more hehe :P It doesn't cause any more irritation. It's true, too much of anything is bad bad bad!

What I like:

• the scent is amazing and addictive, I just love it!
• you only need one pump for the whole face
• packaging is nice and durable
• cleansing the face with it is just.. heaven! haha (exag?)
• gentle on the skin (if used in moderation)

What I dislike:

• too much of it can cause irritation (well, maybe it's just me) 
• the price boo!

Final verdict? It's an OK cleanser. It's fun to wash with; there are better cleansers out there, I'm sure.  But for a mousse cleanser, this is one great option!

Available at all L'Occitane stores for Php 1,450.00 (150 ml)

The Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying Toner

One of my favorite brands when it comes to skincare, make-up and bath tools is The Body Shop simply because...
a) most of the time, their bottles and tubs contain lots of product
b) I love the smell of their body moisturizers! It smells so good to eat!
c) they are AGAINST ANIMAL TESTING!
d) the prices of their products are reasonable
e) and when they are on sale, it really means THEY ARE ON SALE! They offer great, great deals!

They were on sale one time and I decided to check the items on promo. I have tried the Seaweed Facial Wash before and I liked it, that's why when my eyes caught a glimpse of the Seaweed Clarifying Toner and learned that it was on sale for 70% off, I decided to try it out!

Product Description:
For Combination/ Oily Skin. Pore-minimizing toning liquid to remove impurities and reduce excess oil.

I have oily, sensitive skin (great combination right??) and I am on a look out for a good toner that would somehow help keep oilies at bay while of course, won't cause any kind of irritation (redness, itching, all the bad stuff). Since the facial wash worked fine with me, I thought the toner would be okay as well.

The product comes in a clear bottle with a plastic cap that you just pull up to open and push down to close. I think it's very handy because it's lightweight but I'm not sure if it won't leak especially when brought for traveling. The clear liquid smells flowery (it's really good actually) and as you can see, bubbles form on top.

At the back it says...
Removes excess traces of cleanser, make-up and grime, and refines the appearance of pores. With Community Trade Seaweed. Oil-free. Leaves skin purified and shine-free.

What I like:

• lightweight packaging
• transparent bottle (you can monitor how much product is still in there)
• used it for 2 weeks, twice a day and still a lot of product is left 
• alcohol-free

What I dislike:

• too fragrant for my liking
• does not control/ lessen oil
• leaves a thin film (I hate it!)
• irritated my skin (caused redness)
• I feel like this product can't seem to clean my skin enough

Final verdict? Sorry, won't purchase again. So thankful I got it 70% off!
Regular price is Php 695.00

Lesson learned: If one product from a line works for you, it doesn't mean that the other product from that same line will work just the same!

LUSH Enchanted Eye Cream

As the popular saying goes, the "Eyes are the windows to the soul". Do you believe so? If you do, you wouldn't want fine lines, puffy eye bags, dark circles and crow's feet around it right?? We can prevent (or reduce the appearance of) all these by using EYE CREAMS as early as possible!

                                               (photo taken from blog.mariobadescu.com)

Many women (and men) believe that they could use their facial moisturizer as a substitute for eye cream. But it simply isn't enough, especially as we age. The area around the eye doesn't have as much sebaceous glands as we have on the other parts of our faces; it is more prone to aging and dehydration, and it is also more sensitive. Eye creams consist of special, powerful ingredients that target possible problems that may occur in the eye area.

I have been using eye creams for a couple of years now, and it's been on and off (I know, not a great idea). I have tried about 4 brands of eye creams and I still haven't found the best. Yes, read on to know why this eye cream is not really a favorite.

LUSH ENCHANTED EYE CREAM

When I went to Bonifacio High Street one Sunday, I wasn't really planning on buying anything from Lush. But there it was, standing there so beautifully that I couldn't resist but to enter (haha!). When I was younger, the smell of their shop would always intimidate me but now I love it to bits! I smelled all the yummy soaps and checked out their bottled products. And then this caught my eye...

Product Description:
Perfect Day and Night. Bewitchingly beautiful, smooth this extremely gentle, fine blend of organic oils and soothing honey around the finest area of your skin. Simple, refreshing and softening.

Smooth, Gentle, Soothing. Reading those words sold me into it!

I tried it out on my hand and I love its texture. It's light, it's creamy, not sticky and fast-absorbing. I felt it was gonna be perfect for daytime! There isn't much fragrance in it, which is good!
 

I continued to use it during the day for 2 weeks and I honestly loved it (the texture and weight). But then, after a short while, every time I apply the product it would sting :( I don't know if it's because of my application or I've been applying way too much. I still haven't figured it out. Right now I'm trying out another eye cream but I'm still planning to use this once in a while.

What I love:

• non- sticky and absorbs fast
• light but creamy
• not too fragrant
• comes in a pump bottle with plastic cap (very hygienic) 
• contains lots of product

What I dislike:

• stings my eyes (well, that's it)

Always check the yellow sticker for the expiration date! It lasts more than a year from manufacturing date ;)

Final verdict? It's an OK eye cream. Not too enchanted! I probably won't repurchase again!

Available in all LUSH stores. Price is Php 895.00 for a 45g bottle:)

The Body Shop's Sweet Lemon Luxury Set

                                            (photo taken from www.webcosmoforums.com)

Don't you find it difficult to wake up and stay up when it's too early in the morning? I do! And I'm sure a lot of you have the same sentiment. To keep me up, I take a long shower with lukewarm water (believe me, lukewarm is not really easy to shower with early in the morning as it feels nearly cold to me), drink a cup of coffee and there are some mornings when I make 2 cups of lemon water just to energize and ready myself for a long day.

You can't imagine how thankful I am to get a hold of bath products that help me liven up whenever I feel super sleepy! Its scent just wakes me up!

My boyfriend gave me The Body Shop Sweet Lemon Luxury Set as a Christmas gift and I've been using it ever since. I tried using it in the morning and at nighttime and found out that some of the products are good for the latter and some of the products are best for the former!

The set looks like this :)

                                               (photo taken from www.thebodyshop.ca)

The set consists of 5 products namely: The Sweet Lemon Body Scrub, the Body Butter, the Lemon Soap, the Shower Gel and a Bath Lily. Let's take a look at each product, shall we?

The Sweet Lemon Soap

Others say soap is bad for the skin, let’s leave this one an exception! I love this clear, yellow soap because it doesn’t dry your skin out, it lathers so well, and leaves your skin lemon-scented (though only for a short while). I have no qualms about this soap, I just wish I had more. Ha!

The Sweet Lemon Shower Gel and the Bath Lily (no pic :( )

This helps me start my day right. I love using this in the morning with my Bath Lily! This definitely helps perk up my mornings; just the scent of it and I’m alive again! Okay, that’s too much. But seriously, I love this shower gel and the bath lily (my soft little body loofah) definitely helps lather it well. It comes in a big bottle so it can last for a very long time (well, that will depend on how much of it you use though)

The Sweet Lemon Body Scrub

I wasn’t able to a picture of it (sorry!) so I just grabbed pictures from the net. Since I love body scrubs so much, it’s the first one from the set that I used. It comes in a small transparent tub and the moment you open it, you’ll be able to see lots of sugar-like granules and essential oils that your skin will definitely enjoy! It is non-drying, super fragrant and it leaves your skin smooth and moisturized. The only problem I had with this is that the granules fall off easily as it doesn’t stick to the skin and it’s not as exfoliating as I expect it to be. I use this at night time!

                                              (photos taken from www.makeupalley.com)

The Sweet Lemon Body Butter

Mmmm Butter! Just the sound of that makes you daydream about a creamy and super moisturizing product. Well, the product is exactly like that! I love using it before going to bed and after exfoliating as it leaves my skin super soft and hydrated for a long time. Its smell is super great, too! It makes sleeping a lot more fun hihihi :P I put a lot of this on my elbows and knees and the other parts of my body that tend to dry out easily. 

Over-all verdict? Yes! I would definitely love to receive another set! Haha joke! I would definitely purchase (except for the body scrub and bath lily). These products are also sold separately. Will also check out the other "flavors" they have.  ‘Til next time!:D

LUSH Ocean Salt Scrub

Sorry for being on hiatus for such a long time!

My two gayest friends in the world (you know who you girls are! haha) and I decided to visit Lush one time after work. We've been so intrigued with their products because they produce natural cosmetics that we believe would somehow be beneficial (and less harsh) to our skin. We tested and bought different products when we were there but there was ONE product that struck the three of us and it's the OCEAN SALT SCRUB! We love it so much that we call it our FRIENDSHIP BODY SCRUB lol :D

Here it is!

  Please don't mind the dirt on the packaging! I used it the moment I got home (talk about excitement) and I forgot to take a picture of it brand new :(
 

As you can see, it's really meant as a Facial Scrub. But I mainly use it for the body (because I'm weird like that! haha!)

Packaging says: Lashings of fine sea salt to scrub and clean, limes to brighten and avocado butter to soften your skin. 

Wow very natural right? sounds good to me! But since I have extremely sensitive skin, I still check and read the full list of ingredients (not all natural are hypoallergenic)

This product contains: Sea Salt, Grapefruit, Avocado Butter, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Lime oil and Vodka, Glycerine, Lanolin (o oh...), Perfume

Lanolin is known to be a comedogenic ingredient, but since it's written almost at the end of the ingredient list (and to justify my purchase haha), I think it's gonna be alright (I really hope so!)

Now it's time to open this big goodie!

The product is placed in a black, deep tub and at the bottom you will see the creamy white part of the product that consists of the gentler salt granules. On the other hand,  you will see the creamy blue part on top, which has the rougher sea salt bits. You are supposed to mix the two parts together before use (you can use a popsicle stick or any mixing tool). Can you see how excited I was? I wasn't even able to mix the two parts together on my first use :( oh well :(

It looks like this! Looks so creamy and yummy I want to taste it haha! and the product really smells like lime!

What I love:

•  exfoliating, yet non- drying
• safe for sensitive skin
• tub contains right amount of product (better if more, jk!)
• smells good!

What I dislike:

• some of the salt granules fall on the bathroom floor when I use it :(
• the frugal in me says the price could be lower haha!

Of course, don't forget to moisturize after scrubbing!

Here's how to use the product and there's the price as well! I forgot to take a picture of the yellow sticker beside the "how to use" label. The best before date is written on that sticker!

Mine says manufactured on 10/17/12 and best before date is 12/16/13, so the product stays good for more than a year!

I bought the big tub by the way, there's a smaller one available if you want to test it first!
All in all, I think this product is worth purchasing!:D